A great deal of creativity goes into excusing ourselves from physical activity. After a long day of inertia at the office, few of us feel inspired to hit the gym or the pavement on the grounds of personal health alone — we need strict routine, concrete goals and the support of our fellow procrastinators to push us out the door. Even then, motivation can fade after a few weeks or, let’s face it, hours.

Perhaps we can break our fitness intolerance by getting active for others instead of ourselves. An act of selflessness might just be good for our health.

Volunteering is associated with a range of health benefits. The social connections and positive emotions involved in community service contribute to better mental health and help maintain intellectual capacity into our older years.

Friendships buffer against illness by reducing stress and its negative physical effects. There’s even a scientifically proven “helper’s high” of endorphins similar to the mental and physical boost you get from a decent bout of exercise.

Volunteering is associated with a range of health benefits. The social connections and positive emotions involved in community service contribute to better mental health and help maintain intellectual capacity into our older years. (PHOTO: Michael Rajzman/Free The Children)

A 2013 study from Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University found that volunteers over age 50 are less likely to develop high blood pressure than non-volunteers. The U.S. Corporation for National and Community Service calculated that regions with higher volunteer rates have lower rates of heart disease, and a 2012 study in the journal Health Psychology found that people who engage regularly in community service live longer, as long as their involvement is founded on genuine altruism.

Selflessness could be the missing link in sustaining a healthy, active lifestyle.

There is no questioning the success of the proverbial marathon for charity — or 5K for us mere mortals who think of Netflix and a couch when we hear the word “marathon.” It’s such a successful fundraising model because of the social pressures to earn pledge money, the supportive community of runners with a similar goal, and the sense of responsibility that helps overcome any urge to quit during the long months of training.

If we won’t stay fit for ourselves, we’ll surely get active for our aunt with breast cancer, our friend with MS, uneducated children overseas or endangered whales.

We don’t have to run 42 kilometres, or even five, to merge our giving side with good exercise. Looking around our community, we see volunteer coaches and soccer refs running up and down the field with the young players. That guy being towed by all the dogs from the animal shelter is having his afternoon power walk. Farther afield on our volunteer trips overseas, participants building schools are getting a full-body workout.

A 2013 study from Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University found that volunteers over age 50 are less likely to develop high blood pressure than non-volunteers. (PHOTO: Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images)

Even at work, many companies are offering staff an opportunity to escape the cubicle and volunteer as a team. Telus employees across the country worked up a sweat at soup kitchens, animal shelters, food banks and community parks on May 31 for the annual Telus Day of Giving, which brought together more than 15,000 volunteers at over 700 activities in 36 communities across Canada. We don’t know the exact calculations, but these efforts surely burned a ton of calories.

Back in 1995, two 20-somethings in Montreal combined their love of cycling with their desire to provide healthy meals for elderly residents. Santropol Roulant still delivers homemade meals by bike, in addition to being a community hub and bike repair co-op.

In 2010, a Halifax-based foundation started the community fundraiser Bust a Move for Breast Health with local fitness trainers leading participants through six high-intensity workouts to earn their pledges, which in 2014 topped $1 million from across seven cities in Canada and Australia. And the annual Power of Movement event in Toronto uses yoga to raise money for arthritis research.

There’s no limit to the ways we can apply physical activity to a cause we believe in.

Brothers Craig and Marc Kielburger founded the educational partner and international charity Free The Children and the youth empowerment movement We Day.

Marc Kielburger:
Marc is one of the world’s leading figures in corporate social responsibility, social activism and youth empowerment. A Harvard and Oxford graduate, Rhodes Scholar, and international ... read morebestselling author, Marc is also co-founder of Free The Children and We Day.
Craig Kielburger:
A humanitarian, social activist and best-selling author, Craig has inspired a generation of young people to be active global change makers as co-founder of Free The Children and We Day. Craig has received national and international recognition, including The Roosevelt Freedom Medal, and is one of the youngest recipients of The Order of Canada.View author's profile